Dear friends, family and interested voters in Spokane County:

I thought you might be interested to know that of the 243,706 ballots that have been mailed in the County, 48,845 have been returned as of this morning.

This County Commissioner race is critical on so many fronts. Please get your ballot mailed in, and if you are in District 2 for the County, I am asking for your vote.

Spokane is on the Move. We are solving some incredibly difficult problems that have been left unsolved for years.

The choice is clear in the race for Spokane County Commissioner, District 2

I have a track record for supporting business while requiring total compliance with laws.

My opponent touts the need for more regulations, higher taxes and impact fees and a general disdain for business. (I encourage you to read his website)

I have a record of supporting Strategic investment in infrastructure and initiatives to diversify and strengthen the local economy.

My opponent is a sitting councilman who has no record of accomplishments in his 6 years in office.

I have a record of championing care for our mentally ill and vulnerable youth and senior programs as well as funding for the Armed Services Aerospace Museum and the Spokane Valley Hub project for kids.

Again, my opponent has no record in these areas.

I have supported the purchase of a regional sports/racing complex (SRP), and am working to implement a plan that includes regional a ball field park, regional law enforcement training and a vibrant economic engine in a race track to grow the tax base through tourism while providing recreation to an amazing number of local racing enthusiasts. These efforts are supported by the City of Airway Heights, most law enforcement officials and many business leaders like Harry Sladich; the Executive Director for the Spokane Convention and Visitors Bureau and the entire Spokane County Hotel Motel Association.

My opponent says its a bad idea and we should sell it. His strongest supporter (my fellow commissioner) tried to sell it before we owned it for less than we paid for it.

I believe in growing the economy so each of us pay less in taxes and more of us have good paying jobs. Yet I have also taken the lead on homelessness issues for Spokane County to get our Veterans and Mentally ill off of the streets and keep them out of our jails.

My opponent doesn't say what his vision is. His whole campaign has been about trashing me, and he has no track record of leadership in any of these areas after 6 years in office.

I have provided the Board leadership, to first find our flaws in our Criminal Justice System through an independent audit, and now I am helping lead the process of major reforms. I am also lead Commissioner addressing our dangerous and overcrowded jail; that today is forcing us to let criminals out on the street.

I was first to begin the discussion and then helped lead the efforts with Sheriff Knezovich, to restore Crime Check to Spokane County citizens.

In addition, Today, we have a stronger SCOPE program, we have more deputies on the street and more resource officers working in our schools.

My opponent has no track record in public safety.

I founded the Council of Governments (doing as I promised to bring elected officials together to solve real problems and to regionalize services while reducing lawsuits and childish bickering amongst elected officials.) As a result I have been blessed with endorsements from nearly every segment of law enforcement and fire, as well as elected officials on both sides of the political isle; and I have earned a reputation for diplomacy and getting things done.

My opponent rarely attends these productive meetings and his few public endorsements come from partisan elected officials from one political party.

The Primary Election is critical to our momentum thus far in the campaign and I am asking for your vote. I also ask that you please encourage everyone you know to vote by Tuesday the 19th of August.

If I am not on your ballot that means you live in a different district, but I will be in November as we run county wide; and I ask for your support then.

Thank you.


Sincerely,

Mark Richard
Citizens to Re-Elect Mark Richard
County Commissioner District 2

www.richardforcommissioner.com for more information

251-3643


PS> if you have not registered to vote, it is not too late to do so for the November Election. Please visit my website for a link to get you registered today!